Electrically-operated line-indicator for railways.



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APPLICATION FILED 00T.2, 1905.

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O. D. MOPHEE.

ELEGTRIGALLY OPERATED LINE INDICATOR FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.2, 1905.

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PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906,

C. D. MoPHEB. BLECTRIGALLY OPERATED LINE INDICATOR FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED 0073.2, 1905.

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UNITED T OFFICE.

OLAUD I). MOPHEE OF ARNPRIOR, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES ROBINSON, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4. 1906.

Application filed October 2, 1905- Serial No. 281,055.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLAUD DANIEL Mo- PHEE, of the town of Arnprior, in the county of Renfrew, Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Open ated Line-indicators for Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electri callyoperated line-indicators for railways; and the objects of my invention are to provide a simple and practical system by means of which the position and nature of any breaks such as closed switches, burned bridges, open drawbridges, or the likewhich occur in the railway-line may be easily signaled to the station or train before them, further objects being to enable the system to be easily operated with the ordinary telegraphline, whereby the telegraph-wire may be used to carry the signaling-current in addition to the telegraphing-current, further objects still being to combine my signaling system with a system of telephoning, a current of wh ch is superimposed on the telegraph-wire in such a manner that the telephonic current in passing from one station to the next will operate signaling means at any point where there is an open switch, burned bridge, open drawbridge, or the like and it consists, essentially, of a plurality of stations having a telephonic cormnunicating system the current of which is superimposed on the telegraph-wire and a plurality of signaling devices only thrown into operation when the telephonic current passes through them and when the switch, bridge, or the like at which they are placed is in such a condition that they will obstruct the line, the various parts of the device being constructed and arranged in detail as hereinafter more particularly described.

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic plan of my system. Fig. 2 shows an enlarged diagrammatic plan of the connections at each of the communicating stations. Fig. 3 shows a side view of the signaling-motor employed in connection with my system. Fig. 4 shows an end view of the same. elevation, partially in section, of the apparatus employed in connection with my system at each of the signaling-stations.

Fig. 5 shows a front- In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

Various systems for telephoning and telegraphing on the same wire have been devised in the past, and my invention may be employed conveniently in connection with any of these, the distinguishing feature in my invention, however, being that I employ the system to signal the condition of the railwayline in addition to its ordinary purpose of communicating between stations.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a is the telegraph-line, and I) the tracks of a railway system. c and d are two stations on the railway-line placed a suitable distance apart. e represents a switch intermediate of these sections, and the operating mechanism thereof. The stations are placed in telephonic communication with each other by means of any suitable system, that I prefer to use, however, being as hereinafter described.

At each of the signaling-stations a con denser g is provided, one set of the plates of which are connected to the telegrapl1wire a and the other to the earth by means of the conducting-wire 7L, the insulation between the plates of the condenser preventing any direct contact between the telegraph-line and the earth, and hence permitting the ordinary telegraphic system to be operated without any disturbance. i is an inductance-coil whose single coil is placed-in circuit between the condenser and the earth. An electromagnet j, armature 7c, and contact-point Z are also placed in circuit between the condenser and the earth, the armature it being preferably spring-held in contact with the contact-point Z. Below the electromagnet an armature m is placed, coacting with a contact-point n to complete a circuit 0 when the armature is raised by the energizing of the magnet. This circuit 0 comprises a battery p, a bell q, or other electrical annunciator. 1' is a local batery having two circuits 8 and t, the circuit 8 inclosing a part of the cells, a push-button a, telephonetransmitter v, and inductance-coil i. The circuit t incloses the full strength of the battery, a push-button w, and the inductancecoil 11. As will be seen, both of these circuits include the inductance-coil i and a portion of the conducting-wire h on each side thereof. as is a telephone-receiver supported on a pivotal lever y, the end of the lever being provided with a downwardly-extending arm .2 and being so arranged that when the receiver is lifted off the hook the arm 2 will move the armature is out of contact with the button 1 and establish connection between the contact-button Z and a conductor 2, which short circuits the electromagnet j. It will be understood that the conductor 2 will be led along the lever y, insulated therefrom, and being at its end secured to a suitable button which will come in contact with the contact-point Z. All the parts of the station apparatus may be conveniently grouped in one small casing 3, as shown in Fig. 5.

When one station desires to call up the next station (1, the operator at c presses the push-button w several times and the full battery.

strength of the battery is thus made and broken through the inductance-coil i, and the self-induced discharges of the said inductance-coil i, acting through the con-.

denser g, telegraph-wire a, and condenser g at the station (1, will produce a current through the conductor h in station d, completed through the ground between, which current energizing the electromagnet in station d will raise the armature m in contact with the point 01, thus completing the circuit and ringing the bell q.

The attention of the operator at station cl having been attracted, the operator at station 0 then presses the push-button to, completing the circuit 8, which includes the telephone-transmitter v and portion of the The operator at 0 may then speak into the transmitter 12 and the talking vibrations produced acting through the inductance-coil '11, condensers g g, and telephone-wire a will be audible on the receiver x of the station (1. It will be observed that when the operator at station (1 lifts the receiver off he breaks the circuit 0 and places the receiver 00 in circuit in place of the circuit 5. An arrangement of this nature is frequently used in the ordinary telephone-circuits.

Intermediate between the two stations wherever there is a switch, bridge, or other point where the line may possibly be obstructed I provide condensers 4, one set of plates of which are connected to the telegraphwire a, and the other set to earth by means of the conducting-wire 5, inductance coil 6, and electromagnets 7 being placed in the circuit between the condenser and the earth. Below the electromagnet 7 is an armature 8, a contact-point 9, co'acting therewith in a circuit 10, Which comprises a battery 11, key 12, and the electromagnet 13 of an electric motor 14. The key 12 is so geared with the operating mechanism f of the switch 6 that when the switch is closed,

the key 12 will also be closed. It will be seen that the circuit 10 is completed whenever the switch 12 is closed and the armature 8 is in contact with the button 9.

Detail views of the electric motor 1 1 are shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A disk 16, having a notch 17 provided therein, is suitably rotatably mounted on the motor 1 1, and the rotary motion of the armature 15 is communicated thereto in a suitable manner, as by the gearing 18.

19 is a suitably-pivoted lever provided with a downwardly-extending tooth 20, which is adapted to normally fit into the notch 17 in the disk 16, a contact-point 21 being situated a slight distance above the lever, whereby when the disk 16 is rotated the end of the lever will come in'contact with the contact-point 21.

22 is an electric circuit comprising the bat tery 11, lever 19, and contact-point 21, and, as will be seen, this circuit is completed when the lever 19 is raised in contact with the contact-point 21.

A second disk 23, provided with a plurality of notches 24, has also imparted to it the rotary motion of the armature, and a suitablypivoted lever 25, having a downwardly-extending tooth 26, adapted to normally fit in one of the notches 24, coacts with a contactbutton 27 to intermittently complete a circuit 28 when the disk is rotated. This circuit 28 includes the battery 11 and an inductance-coil 6, and it will be seen that when it is'intermittently made and broken through the inductance-coil 6 the self-induced discharges of the latter will furnish variations in potential, which acting through the con.- denser 4-,, telegraph-line a, and condenser g of the station 0 will energize the electromagnet j, completing the circuit 0 and ringing the alarm-bell g. The object of the circuit 22- is to complete the battery-circuit during the period the armature is rotated, as it is evident that the current which energizes the magnet 7 may continue for a very short time and when it ceases the circuit 10 would be broken and the electromagnet 13 would cease to operate. By means, however, of the circuit 22 it is completed only during one rotation of the disk 16. The battery 11 is still kept in circuit with the electromagnet for that period of time.

During one revolution of the disks 16 and 23 the circuit 28 will be made and broken a number of times corresponding with a number of notches in the disk 23, and it will be seen that by making a predetermined numbr of notches a signal will be given at the receiving-station c, which will indicate to the operator there at what part of the line the breakage occurs.

The method of operation of my line-detector is briefly as follows: The operator at the station 0 presses the push-button 11) several times, and thus sends a telephonic current along the telegraph-line a through the condenser g of the station (1, returning through the earth, at the same time operating a signalbell q in the station (Z. A part of the current, however, will return through the condensers 4 and earth connection 5. If the line is clear, this is all that takes place as a result of the completing of the circuit t; but should, how ever, a switch be closed, swing-bridge open, or any other obstruction placed in the line the key 12, controlled by said obstruction will be closed, and the current passing through the conductor 5 having energized the electroinagnet 7 the armature 8 will have been raised into contact with the point 9, and hence the circuit 10 will be completed. This will energize the electromagnet 13 and cause the rotation of the armature 15 of the motor. This will simultaneously rotate the two disks 16 and 23. The disk 16 will hold the circuit 22 completed during one revolution of the motor and the disk 23 will complete the circuit 2S and send a signal back to the receiving-station, as hereinbefore described.

When the operator at the station 0 re ceives this signal, he will be enabled to tell by the number of makes and breaks in the signal at what place between the two stations the breakage occurs, and hence the train may go slowly to that point and see that the way is clear before proceeding.

It will be readily understood in connection with my system that trains may be equipped with circuits similarly to the station 0, and then a train desiring to ascertain the condition of the line ahead of it would simply have to make connection with thetelegraphdine and send a conducting-current ahead of it, as hereinbefore described.

It will also be understood that any system of duplex telegraphy may be used to send a detecting-current, and I do not claim this as my invention.

In the method of carrying out my inven tion that I have shown the signals only operate when the switches or bridges are obstructing the line; but it will be understood that the system might be operated on a closed circui tthat is, the signal would be given if the switches and bridges were in a condition not obstructing the line and the signal would not be given if there wasdanger. By this means it could be insured that the signaling apparatus was always working.

It will now be seen that I have devised a system whereby the engineer of a train stopping at one station may always insure that the line is clear before proceeding to the next station, and in operating my system the engineer shall be always required to receive word from the telegraph operator that the line is clear before proceeding to the next station. In this manner all danger of accidents, such as are so prevalent at the present time, due to open switches or bridges, may be entirely done away with. In connection with ordinary bridges-thermostatic circuitclosers would be employed in place of the keys 12; but the rest of the circuit would be exactly the same.

It will be understood that in carrying out the construction of my device certain changes may be made in the details thereof without materially departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a signaling system the combination with a detecting-current superimposed on a telegraph-wire, of signaling means operated by said superimposed current intermediate of the sending and receiving stations to automatically indicate the condition of the line as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a signaling system the combination with a detecting-current superimposed on a telegraph-wire, of signaling means operated by said superimposed current intermediate of the sending and receiving stations to automatically indicate any obstruction in the line and the position thereof as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a signaling system the combination with a detecting-current superimposed on the telegraph-wire of a plurality of signaling devices only thrown into operation when a telephonic current passes through them and when the switch at which they are placed is in such a condition that it would obstruct the line as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a signaling system the combination with a current superimposed on a telegraph wire, of signaling means comprising receiving apparatus for the superimposed current, means controlled by the condition of the line for throwing said receiving apparatus into circuit and means operated by said superimposed current for signaling back the existence of a break in the line as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a signaling system the combination with a current superimposed on a telegraphwire, of signaling means comprising receiving apparatus for the superimposed current, means controlled by the condition of the line for throwing said receiving apparatus into circuit and means operated by said superimposed current for signaling back the existence and position of a break in the line as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a signaling system the combination with a detecting-current superimposed on a telegraph-wire, of signaling means compris-' ing receiving apparatus for the superimposed current, means operated by said superimposed current to complete an electric circuit, means operated by the closure of said circuit for signaling back the existence of the break in the line as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a signaling system the combination with a detecting-current superimposed in the telegraph-wire, of signaling means comprising receiving apparatus for the superimposed current, a circuit closed by the action of said superimposed current and by a key controlled by the condition of the switch at which it is placed and means operated by the closure of said circuit to signal back the existence of a break in the line as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a signaling system the combination with a detecting-current superimposed in the telegraph-wire, of signaling means comprising receiving apparatus for the superimposed current, a circuit closed by the action of said superimposed current and by a key controlled by the condition of the switch at which it is placed a second circuit completed by the action of the aforesaid circuit adapted to signal back the existence of a break in the line a third circuit completed by the operati on of the first circuit and means in said circuit for holding the first circuit closed during the period when the signal is being given and after the superimposed detecting-current has ceased as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a signaling system the combination witha detecting-current superimposed on the telegraph-wire, receiving apparatus therefor, a circuit completed by the passage of a current through said receiving apparatus, and by a key controlled by the condition of the switch at which it is placed, an electric motor in said circuit, a contact-disk rotated thereby, a contact-button coacting therewith, a circuit having signaling means therein completed during the rotation of said disk as and for the purpose specified.

10. In a signaling system the combination with a detecting-current superimposed on the telegraph-wire, and receiving means for the same located along the wire wherever a switch is placed, a circuit completed by the passage of a current through said receiving apparatus and by a key controlled by the condition of the switch, an electric motor in said circuit, a contact-disk rotated thereby having a plurality of notches cut inthe periphery thereof, a contact-button coacting therewith, a circuit having means therein for returning a signal to the sending-station and adapted to be intermittently broken by the action of the notches in said disk as and for the purpose specified.

11. In a signaling system the combination with a detecting-current superimposed on a telegraph-wire, receiving apparatus therefor placed along the line wherever there is a switch, a circuit completed by the current sdi passing through said receiving apparatus and by a key controlled by the condition of said switch, a motor in said circuit, a contactdisk rotated thereby, a contact-button coacting therewith, a circuit having means therein for returning the signal to the sending-station completed by the rotation of said disk, a second contact-disk rotated by said motor, a button coacting therewith, a circuit closed by the rotation of said contactdisk, means in said circuit for holding the motoroperating circuit closed during the revolution of the contact-disks as and for the purpose specified.

12. In a signaling system the combination with a detecting-current superimposed on the telegraph-line, receiving apparatus therefor placed along the line at all points where there is a switch, a circuit completed by the action of the detecting-current in passing through the receiving apparatus and by a key controlled by the condition of said switch, an electric motor in said circuit a contact-disk rotated thereby, a contact-button coacting therewith, a circuit having means for returning the signal to the sending-station therein, completed by the rotation of said disk, a second contact-disk also rotated by said motor, a button coacting therewith, a circuit closed by the action of said contactdisk during one revolution thereof, and means in said circuit for holding the motoroperating circuit closed during the one revolution of the contact-disk and after the superimposed detecting-current has ceased as and for the purpose specified.

13. In a signaling system an automatic signaling-repeater comprising an electric motor, a contact-disk geared thereto, a button cooperating therewith to complete an electric circuit during the revolution of the disk, a second disk having a plurality of notches in the periphery thereof, and a button cooperating therewith to intermittently make and break an electric circuit during the revolu- Eon of the disk as and for the purpose speci- 14. In a signaling system the combination with a primary signaling-circuit completed through the telegraph-wire, a receiving apparatus placed wherever there isa switch, on the line, of a second circuit completed by the action of the first current passing through said receiving apparatus and by a key controlled by the condition of said switch, means in said circuit for completing a third circuit ,and means in said third circuit for automatically sending a signal back to the primary sending-station indicating the condition of the line as and for the purpose specified.

15. In a signaling system the combination with a sending and receiving station, a telephone-circuit completed between them over the telegraph-wire, of signaling means placed at each switch in the line intermediate of the to automatically indicate any obstructions IO stations operated by the telephonic current in the line as and for the purpose specified.

Whenever a break in the line occurs as and Signed at Arnprior, in the Province of On for the purpose specified. tario, Canada, the 29th day of September,

16. In a signaling system the combination 1905.

with a plurality of sending and receiving sta- CLAUD D. MGPHEE.

tions, at telephonic current passing between /Vitnesses:

superimposed on the telegra h-Wire, of L. D. DAVIS,

means operated by the passage 0 said current JAMES MOPHEE. 

